Apparatus for effecting chemical action in gases.



, 110.829.877. PATENTED AUG. 28,1906;

D. R. LOVBJOY.

APPARATUS FOR EFPBGTING CHEMICAL ACTION IN GASES. APPLICATION rmm umza. 190a. nsmzwnn JULY 5, 1906.

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APPARATUQ; FQF? EFF'EZCTHKHEB NIAGARA FALL L .lllflli' Yl'fllll',ASQIGNOH TO ATIBIOSPllEl-HC PRODUCTS COlLlPi-iNY, YORK, A CQHPORATIUN ()F NEYV YORK.

OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW

Ql' lfih llil is AGTBQN EN GASES Specification of Letters Patent Patented Aug. 2a, 1906.

Original application filed May 29, 1902, erial No. 199,443. Divided and this application filed January 28v 1903. Renewed July 5,

190a Eerie}. in 224,231.

To rut whom It nmy cal per/ 2 Be it known that l, DIMMITT Ross Lovero Y', a citizen of the l cited States. residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of hliagara and State of ew York, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements in ripparatus for Eflecting Chemical Action in Gases, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for effecting the union or chemical action oi gases by the agency of electric arcs formed Within. or in connection with chant ber in which. are contained mixed gases to be chemically combined.

- In. the patent granted to C. Bradley and D. R. Lovejoy, No. 709,867, and in my application Serial no. 109,-l43, filed May 29, 1992, of Which latter application the present case is a division, is described apparatus for this purpose, in which cases a series of electrodes is moved past another series of electrodes oppositely charged to a high tension, so as to successively form, elongate, and break arcs between such electrodes Within a chamber in Which. the mixed gases to be united are confined;

l have discovered that the desired effect may be more successfully produced by sub j ecting the gases individually to the action of electrodes charged to a high degree of electrical potential in such a manner that the re spective molecules of the two gases shall be given an electrostatic charge of high potential, the molecules of one gas icing gi en a positive charge and the molecules of the other a negative charge previous to subjecting the gases, after mixing the same, to the action of electric arcs.

In the accompanying drawing 1 have shown diagrammatica-lly the apparatus for carrying this invention into c'fie .3, in i h the chamber 1 is provided with two distinct sets of inlet-ducts which are i rei erably of: in sulating material, and includ d in the path of each gas is an electrifyin chamber 53 and a r a D I 54, these containing electrodes and 56,

which are adapted to electrostatically charge the molecules of the gases in contact there with and which. are connected to the source of high unidhectionalpotential The two I gases afteubeing electrified are mixed in the chamber 1 in the presence of the arcs, or just i previously to coming into the presence of said arcs.

The chamber .1, above referred to and in essentially the same as that set forth in the patentgranted to C. S. Bradley and D. R. Lovejoy, No. 709,867, above referred to, in which the. apparatus consists of a cylindrical chamher 1, fixed electrodes 2; mounted around the inner periphery of said chamber, a shaft 3, mounted to rotate Within the said chamber, and movable electrodes 4, mounted mechanically upon the said shaft and connected electrically thereto,. an exhaust-fan y or other means connected to the outlet duct or ducts for causing flow of gases through the chamber, asource 8 of hightension electrical currents, either unidirectional or alternating, a series o1"- inductances or choke-coils 9, each having one terminal connected individually to one of the fixed electrodes 2 and having their remaining terminals grouped together and. connected to one pole of the generator 8, the circuit being completed b connecting the shaft 3 to the remaining po 6 of the generator.

As an illustrative example of the invention it may be stated that equal volumes of nitro gen and oxygen. gases may be conducted into the chamber 1, these gases being first caused to pass in contact with the charged electrodes 55 56, respectively, by which the respective gases are separately electrostatically charged to a diilerence of potential of about fifty thousand volts. The limits of voltageinaintamed between the arc terminals 2 and 4 may in this case be about ten thousand volt-s, for instance, with a current of .0 of an ampere. It has been found that with the above conditions chemical combination is effected and satisfactory yields are obtained.

It is to he understood that'the invention is not limited to any definite or fixed potential difference between the molecules of the respective gases or that the current values given with respect to the arc terminals are in any Way definite or fixed. The datagiven are merely illustrative quantities. The skilled ep....ator will determine the most advanta- Which the electrical arcs are formed, may begeous conditions of current and potential to i be employed having regard for the character combination of gases, the combination of means for successively forming and breaking electric arcs, means for passing gases to be treated in proximity to said arcs, and means for previously charging the molecules of the respective gases separately to opposite electrostatic potentials;

3. In apparatus for efi'ectin'g the chemical combination of gases, the combination of two sets of relatively movable electrodes, means for passing gases to be treated in proximity to arcs formed between said electrodes, and means for previously charging the molecules of the respective gases separately to opposite electrostatic potentials.

4; An apparatus for effecting chemical combination of gases comprising means to charge electrostatically the molecules of the respective gases to opposite electrical potens, a combining-c amber, means to conduct the charged gases separately into the 35 combining-chamber, two sets of relatively I movable electrodes within gaid chamber, means to'form arcs between said electrodes, I and means to withdraw the combined' ga'ses.

==' 5. An apparatus for effecting chemical 4o combination of gases comprising means to} charge electrostatically the molecules of the respective gases to o posits electrical "potentials, a combining-c amber,me ans to con.-

duct the charged gases separatelyinto and through the combining-chamber, means for forming arcs within said chamber, and means for repeatedly. elongating, interrupting andrestablishing said arcs. r

6. An apparatus for efiecting chemical 50 combination of gases comprising means to charge electrostatically the molecules of the respective gases to opposite electrical potentials, a combining-chamber, means to conduct the charged gases separately into and 5 5 through the combining-chamber, means for forming arcs within said chamber, means for repeatedly elon ating, interrupting and reestablishin said arcs, and inductances inserted in tie circuits of the arc-forming de- 60 vices for the purpose described.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

D. R. LOVEJOY.

Witnesses CLAUDE K. MILLS, WM. GIRLING. 

